Keystone
Switzerland also loses its tenth home game in the Euro Hockey Tour in Freiburg. After losing 4-1 to Sweden, coach Patrick Fischer’s team lost 2-0 to world champions the Czech Republic.
It was as it often is during the season when the Swiss have no NHL players at their disposal. They lacked the necessary cold-bloodedness. In the final phase of the middle period, the hosts kept the ice in their attacking zone for a long time and tired the Czechs out, but no goal was scored.
It was a different story for the Eastern Europeans when they constricted the Swiss in their defensive zone in the middle of the first period. Filip Zadina, who plays for Davos, scored the ultimately decisive 1:0 (12′) after a rebound from Ludovic Waber. The 2:0 was also scored by an HCD forward, Matej Stransky, 20.7 seconds before the first break. Because the Swiss were defending too puck-oriented, he had a free shot from close range.
When the Swiss became dangerous, it was usually the line of Denis Malgin, Sven Andrighetto and Fabrice Herzog on the ice, as was the case in the pressure phase at the end of the middle third. In the 6th minute, Herzog went in alone on Czech keeper Simon Zajicek after a pass from Malgin, but was unable to beat him. Herzog missed another very good opportunity in the 14th minute, and in the 23rd minute his pass to Andrighetto was too imprecise after a 2:1 situation. Grégory Hofmann (35) and Thierry Bader (43) also missed the best chances in front of 6412 spectators.
The locals tried everything in the final third as well, but just like in the World Cup final in May (0:2), they were unable to score against the Czechs. They were already defeated by the Eastern Europeans in the first tournament of this season in the Euro Hockey Tour, losing 2:5 on that occasion.
The Swiss therefore have one more chance to put an end to their home curse. Their last opponent on Sunday at 3.30 pm is Finland, who defeated Sweden 3-0 on Saturday.
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Switzerland – Czech Republic 0:2 (0:2, 0:0, 0:0)
Fribourg. – 6412 spectators. – SR Kaukokari/Wuorenheimo (FIN), Urfer/Stalder. – Goals: 12. Zadina (Kundratek, Krejcik) 0:1. 20. (19:39) Stransky (Tomasek, Zabransky) 0:2. – Penalties: 3 times 2 minutes each.
Switzerland: Waeber; Glauser, Kukan; Egli, Jung; Karrer, Marti; Heldner, Frick; Herzog, Malgin, Andrighetto; Simion, Jäger, Hofmann; Bertschy, Thürkauf, Biasca; Bader, Senteler, Schmid.
Czech Republic: Zajicek; Kundratek, Krejcik; Kostalek, Pyrochta; Knot, Sirota; Zabransky, Vala; Stransky, Tomasek, Kubalik; Smejkal, Michal Kovarcik, Ondrej Kovarcik; Kaut, Spacek, Zadina; Flek, Kondelik, Beranek.
Remarks: Switzerland without Lehmann (injured), Riat (supernumerary) and Charlin (substitute goalie). Switzerland without goalie from 57:18 – Shots: Switzerland 25 (5-11-9); Czech Republic 27 (9-13-5). – Powerplay output: Switzerland 0/2; Czech Republic 0/2.